Bipin’s background in lighting, from photometry to lighting design and project

management, has allowed him to gain exposure in several different realms of

the lighting industry, by staying within the lighting community of designers,

engineers, artists, researchers, and other lighting professionals. From his

educational background in Lighting and Electrical engineering, he has gained

a good understanding of lighting as a uniquely interdisciplinary field in itself.

With a passion for lighting design, he has recently become a part of BLD’s

design team. .

Upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, he

started his career in the Lighting industry as a Project Engineer, at Light Sound

Image India, where he worked closely with Lighting Designers and Architects,

and gained a good understanding of the various architectural and theatrical

lighting, lighting control products, and their applications. After gaining skills

in Project management, he worked as an Executive Lighting designer at Bajaj

Electricals India. As a Lighting Designer, he has experience working on retail,

commercial, roadway, and industrial lighting design projects. He has worked

closely with clients and government bodies, presenting energy efficient and

creative lighting design solutions as it benefits the clients and meets the needs

of the end user.

Bipin has a Masters in Lighting from the Lighting Research Center, at

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY. From the lighting design coursework, he

has developed better understanding of creative solutions to the application of

light in architecture and theatrical environment, by also integrating and

applying the knowledge gained from the other courses in Lighting. His main

area of focus while at the LRC was in Human Factors of Light & Health. His

Masters project focused on quantifying the spectral absorption by the retinal

hemoglobin and the macula lutea, to further understand the functional

relationship of optical radiation as a stimulus to the human visual and circadian

system.

Prior to joining Birkenstock Lighting Design, he has worked as a Lab Engineer,

at a NVLAP accredited test lab. While at Technical Consumer Products, his

work was mainly in the operations and quality management, writing test

procedures, and setting up test apparatus for reliable and effective testing of

lighting products. He also has worked closely with the IES, NVLAP, and the

EPA, related to compliance requirements and test methods. He is a member

of the IES TPC, LTEC, and NEMA.

As a Lighting Designer, Bipin’s work focuses on comprehensive and research

based approach in Lighting design, working under the guidance of Inga

Birkenstock.

BIPIN RAO, LC

Lighting Designer

bio

Experience / Lighting design

Birkenstock Lighting Design / San Geronimo, CA

2014-present • Lighting Designer

• Production and documentation

• Assists in establishing project foresight criteria, evaluating document and

construction timeline

• Assists in conceptual lighting design concepts, and presentation

• Involved in client consultations and job site review

• Performs lighting (electric and daylight) calculations

• Conducts intensive Design research

• 3D presentation production for interior spaces and light renderings

• Performs Title 24, Cal Green and LEED V4 calculations and compliance

documents

• Coordinates in-house project schedules and duty distribution

• AutoCAD and REVIT

• Assists with VE efforts

• Fixture specification under the direction of senior lighting designer. Assembling

lighting schedule and cut sheets

• Constructs mock-ups in house and on site

• Assists in the designs of custom details and lighting fixtures

• Performs final focusing on site

Past Experience / Lighting

Technical Consumer Products, Compliance Test Lab, Ohio

2011-2014 • Lab Engineer responsible for quality and operations management for the

Performance test lab

• Worked closely with the IES TPC, LTEC and NEMA

• Quality management and internal auditing per ISO17025, NVLAP handbook

150 & 150-1

• Developing test apparatus for efficient, reliable and accurate testing of lighting

products for compliance against energy star specifications, DOE, and

Designlight consortium requirements

• Coordinated and assisted the Engineering and Product management

department on compliance requirements and testing

• Providing technical consultation to sister lab in Shanghai - AITL:S

Bajaj Electricals / Mumbai, India

2009-2010 • Provided lighting design solutions for various interior and exterior architectural

applications

• Dealt with clients directly from understanding design needs, to preparing and

presenting design proposals

• Audited and proposed retrofit lighting solutions for several commercial

applications for improved lighting and energy efficiency.

Light Sound Image / Mumbai, India

2008-2009 • Worked closely with Lighting designers and Architects, on various architectural

and theatrical lighting design projects

• Managed several projects by understanding the lighting needs, and effective

installation and commissioning of lighting systems

• Assisted clients in selecting appropriate fixtures and lighting systems for

specific applications

• Presented product information and its application tailored to the clients’ current

projects.

Education • Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: M.S. in Lighting

• Fr. C.R.I.T, Mumbai University: B.E. Electrical Engineering

Memberships • Illuminating Engineering Society of North America

• National Electrical Manufacturers Association

• IESNA Testing Procedures Committee

• LTEC